Magnetic game

ABSTRACT

A magnetic game that includes a planar game board of nonmagnetic material adapted to stand vertically during use. The game board is provided with a plurality of posts extending outwardly from each side thereof. The posts are arranged in coaxial pairs with one post of each pair projecting outwardly from each side of the game board, a first player making use of the posts on one side and a second player making use of the posts on the other side. A plurality of ring-shaped game pieces are adapted to slide over the game board&#39;&#39;s posts on each side of the game board. Each game piece is magnetized and color coded with its opposite faces being of opposite polarity and different color, the faces of the same polarity on all pieces being of the same color, e.g., north pole/red and south pole/black. The game board is transparent so that the first player can tell the location thereon of the second player&#39;&#39;s game pieces, but is tinted so that the first player cannot tell the face color of the second player&#39;&#39;s game pieces; in the instance of red and black faces on the game pieces, the game board is tinted green so that both faces of each piece appear black when viewed through the tinted game board. The objective of the game is for the first player to force all the second player&#39;&#39;s game pieces off the second player&#39;&#39;s posts (through repulsive forces achieved by proper orientation of the first player&#39;&#39;s magnetized game pieces on his posts vis-a-vis the second player&#39;&#39;s magnetized game pieces on his posts) before the second player forces all the first player&#39;&#39;s game pieces off the first player&#39;&#39;s posts. The two players take alternate turns in moving the game pieces one at a time from one post to another on their respective game board sides in attempting to achieve this objective.

United States Patent [191 Lemkin Mar, 26, 11974 MAGNETIC GAME [76] Inventor: Jack L. Lemkin, 5900 Mohican Ln.,

Cincinnati, Ohio 45243 [22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 313,823

[52] US. CL... 273/131 AD, 273/1 M, 273/131 AB, 273/131 K, 273/136 B, 273/137 AB [51] Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 [58] Field of Search. 273/131 AD, 131 AB, 130 A, 273/134 AB, 135 AD, 1 M, 136 B, 137 AE [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,674,272 7/1972 Wszalek 273/130 A 3,082,004 3/1963 Friedman 273/1 M X 3,556,526 1/1971 Currie 273/130 A Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wood, Herron & Evans [57] ABSTRACT game board, a first player making use of the posts on one side and a second player making use of the posts on the other side. A plurality of ring-shaped game pieces are adapted to slide over the game boards posts on each side of the game board. Each game piece is magnetized and color coded with its opposite faces being of opposite polarity and different color, the faces of the same polarity on all pieces being of the same color, e.g,, north pole/red and south pole/- black. The game board is transparent so that the first player can tell the location thereon of the second players game pieces, but is tinted so that the first player cannot tell the face color of the second players game pieces; in the instance of red and black faces on the game pieces, the game board is tinted green so that both faces of each piece appear black when viewed through the tinted game board. The objective of the game is for the first player to force all the second players game pieces off the second player's posts (through repulsive forces achieved by proper orientation of the first players magnetized game pieces on his posts visa-vis the second players magnetized game pieces on his posts) before the second player forces all the first players game pieces off the first players posts. The two players take alternate turns in moving the game pieces one at a time from one post to another on their respective game board sides in attempting to achieve this objective.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MAGNETIC GAME This invention relates to games and, more particularly, relates to a game adapted to be played on a game board through the use of magnetic game pieces.

Games of one type or another have, of course, been employed by man throughout history to wile away idle hours. Over the last generation or so, the game industry has become a particularly viable industry because of increased leisure time amongst the people. Many, many different kinds and types of games have been devised to satisfy consumers, but the game industry is always seeking new games which are marketable and which appeal to persons of widely differing ages.

The games of chess and checkers both appeal to people of a wide ranging age group. Chess and checkers are sit-down type parlor games where two opponents are located on opposite sides of a table, both games being played on a game board that is laid out flat on the table. While chess and checkers are similar in the sense that they both employ a plurality of game pieces for each player, they are also quite widely different in the sense that they require widely differing degrees of concentration. It is generally acknowledged that chess requires a very high degree of concentration to play with any degree of success against qualified opponents, while checkers requires a far lesser degree of concentration.

It has been one objective of this invention to provide a novel magnetic game of the sit-down, parlor type that is adapted to be played by two opponents, and that may be played with varying degrees of concentration as desired by the opponents.

It has been another objective of this invention to provide a novel magnetic game of the character described that makes use of a tinted, nonmagnetic, transparent game board and color coded, magnetized playing pieces, the objective of the game being the elimination of all of the first players game pieces from the game board by the second players game pieces through repulsive forces achieved by the proper orientation of the first players pieces on one side of the game board vis-avis the second players pieces on the other side of the game board with the two players moving their pieces in alternate moves to multiple spaced locations on opposite sides of the game board (the two players each being aware of the polarity of his own game pieces because of the color coding, being able to observe the spaced locations of the others game pieces because of the game boards transparency, but being unaware of the magnetic polarity of the others pieces when viewing same through the game board because of the game boards tinting).

In accomplishing these objectives, this invention provides a magnetic game that includes a planar game board of nonmagnetic material adapted to stand vertically during use. The game board is provided with a plurality of posts extending outwardly from each side thereof. The posts are arranged in coaxial pairs with one post of each pair projecting outwardly from each side of the game board, a first player making use of the posts on one side and a second player making use of the posts on the other side. A plurality of ring-shaped game pieces are adapted to slide over the game boards posts on each side of the game board. Each game piece is magnetized and color coded with its opposite faces being of opposite polarity and different color, the faces of the same polarity on all pieces being of the same color, e.g., north pole/red and south pole/black. The game board is transparent so that the first player can tell the location thereon of the second players game pieces, but is tinted so that the first player cannot tell the face color of the second players game pieces; in the instance of red and black faces on the game pieces, the game board is tinted green so that both faces of each piece appear black when viewed through the tinted game board.

The objective of the game is for the first player to force all the second players game pieces off the second players posts (through repulsive forces achieved by proper orientation of the first players magnetized game pieces on his posts vis-avis the second players magnetized game pieces on his posts) before the second player forces all the first players game pieces off the first players posts. The two players take alternate turns in moving the game pieces one at a time from one post to another; on their respective game board sides in attempting to achieve this objective.

In use, the first player aligns his pieces on at least one horizontal row of posts at the top of the game board on one side thereof, and the second player aligns his pieces on at least one horizontal row of posts at the bottom of the game board on the other side thereof. The north- /south orientation of each players game pieces is mixed up when the pieces are originally located on the game board, the north face on some pieces and the south face on other pieces being directed toward the owner of these pieces. The owner of the pieces can easily tell the polarity of his pieces because of the color code, but cannot tell the polarity of his opponents pieces even though such are also color coded because the transparent game board is tinted to prevent such identification. The two players then approach the center of the game board one move at a time in checkerslike fashion without flipping the game pieces, i.e., with out reversing the magnetic orientation of the game piece faces. Elimination of a piece from the board occurs when, e.g., the first player moves one of his pieces onto one of his posts when one of the second players pieces is positioned over that one of the second players posts which is coaxial therewith and when the juxtaposed faces of those two pieces are of the same polarity. Such allows the first player to push the second players piece off the second players post and, thereby, eliminates the second players piece from the game board. Of course, when the juxtaposed faces of the two players pieces on coaxial posts are of the opposite p0 larity, such attracts the pieces one to the other with the result that no piece is eliminated during that move; this, however, does provide useful information to each player in that it tells each player the polarity orientation of his opponents piece on that post.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of a game board constructed in accord with the principles of this invention, a series of game pieces being illustrated in starting position on each side of the game board;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a first alternative embodiment piece retainer for the game board;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a second alternative embodiment piece retainer for the game board; and

FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating a single game piece, one face of the game piece being shown as red and the other face of the game piece being shown as black.

A preferred embodiment of the magnetic game of this invention is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the game board includes a planar board 11 fixed to a foot stand 12, the foot stand allowing the planar board to stand free in a vertical position on a tabletop 13 or the like when in use. A frame 14 surrounds the game board and is of a width substantially equal to that of the foot, the frame being provided for aesthetic reasons. The planar game board 11 must be made of a nonmagnetic and transparent material, e.g., an acrylic plastic. Further, the transparent game board 11 is provided with a color tinting that cooperates with the color coding on game pieces 23 as described below.

When the game board 11 is vertically disposed, it presents two sides 15, 16 to the two players, one side 15 being presented to a first player and the other side 16 being presented to a second player. The sides 15, 16 are in the nature of opposed playing surfaces, i.e., game board surfaces, with each side being for the use of only one player. Each side 15, 16 of the game board 11 is provided with a multiple number of piece retainers 17, the piece retainers functioning to maintain or hold game pieces 23 in that position or location on the game board desired by the players since the game board is vertically oriented when in use. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each piece retainer 17 is characterized by posts 18 or 19 extending outwardly from a game board 11, the posts 18 extending outwardly from side 15 of the game board 11 and the posts 19 extending outwardly from side 16. Each post 18, 19 is of an axial length at least about twice the thickness of a game piece 23 to allow at least two game pieces to be located thereon. The posts 18, 19 are arranged in coaxial pairs, i.e., a pair of posts 18, 19 is disposed on the same axis 20, with one post of each pair extending outwardly from each side 15, 16 of the game board 11. The axis 20 of each coaxial pair of posts 18, 19 is oriented transverse to the plane of the game board 11. Each piece retainer 17 also includes an annular rim 21 disposed concentrically about post 18 or 19, the rim 21 being raised from the surface of the game board's sides 15, 16. The rims 21 cooperate with the posts 18, 19 to aid in holding the game pieces 23 in desired location on the vertical game board 11.

The piece retainers 17, i.e., the post 18, 19/rim 21 structures, are located in a very definite pattern 24, i.e., define a definite matrix, on the game board 11, the matrix being particularly illustrated in FIG. 1. The matrix 24 is presented in identical detail on each side 15 and 16 of the game board, the matrix on one side of the board being superimposed over the matrix on the other side of the board. The game boards matrix 24 (on each side 15 and 16) is comprised of a central rectangular portion outlined by phantom lines 25, 26, a first linear portion defined by phantom line 27 and a second linear portion defined by phantom line 28. When the game board 11 is vertically oriented in playing or use position as shown in FIG. 1, it will be seen that the matrixs central portion 25, 26 is four retainers 17 high (phantom lines 101-104) and five retainers 17 long (phantom lines l11-115) for a total of 20 retainers 17 on each side 15 and 16 of the board, that the first linear portion 27 is parallel to and above the top horizontal row 101 in the matrixs rectangular portion 25, 26, and that the second linear portion 28 is parallel to and below the bottom horizontal row 104 in the matrixs rectangular portion 25, 26. Note that retainers 17 in the first 27 and second 28 linear portions number only four in number, i.e., number one less than the number of retainers in each horizontal row 101-104 of the matrixs center portion 25, 26, and that those retainers are positioned equidistant between vertical rows 111, 112 and 112, 113 and 113,114 and 114, 115. Note also that the retainers 17 of the matrix 24 on each side 15 and 16 of the board 11 are located so that rims 21 thereof are tangent one to the other for adjacent retainers.

Two different alternative embodiments for the retainer 17 structure are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The retainers for the game pieces on each side 15, 16 of the game board 11 may comprise only annular rims 32 (see FIG. 3) having an inside diameter just slightly greater than the outside diameter of the disc-like game pieces 23, the game pieces being held therein by friction and by cocking within the rims. Alternatively, the retainers for the game pieces on each side 15, 16 of the game board may comprise only coaxial posts 33 (see FIG. 4) having an outside diameter just slightly less than the inside diameter of the doughnut-like game pieces 23, the game pieces being held in position simply by slipping same over the posts.

As noted, each post 18, 19/annular rim 21 structure, i.e., each retainer 17, is adapted to receive a doughnutshaped playing piece 23 in seated relation thereon, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The doughnut-shaped game piece 23 is of an outside diameter that allows same to be slip-fit within each annular rim, and of an inside diameter that allows same to be slipfit over each post, i,e., to be located within each seat 29, since all posts 13, 19, rims 21 and game pieces 23 are of the same dimensions. Specifically, each game piece 23 is comprised ofa magnetic material that is so magnetized so that one face 30 of same is of a north polarity and the other face 31 of same is of a south polarity. Note particularly that the north/south polarity axis 35 of each game piece is oriented transverse to the planar game board 11 when same is positioned on a retainer 17; this is important in that it allows only the north or the south pole of each piece to be in juxtaposition to the game board when the game piece is located on the board.

Further, and importantly, each playing piece 23 is color coded with its opposite faces 30, 31 being of different colors. However, the faces 30 or 31 of the same polarity on all pieces must be of the same color, e.g., north pole/red for face 30 and south pole/black for face 31 of each game piece 23. As noted, the game board 11 is transparent so that the first player can tell the physical location thereon of the second players game pieces. However, the game board 11 is also tinted so that the first player cannot tell the face 30, 31 color, i.e., cannot tell the color coding, of the second players game pieces when the first player views the second players game pieces through the game board 1 1. When the game board 11 is tinted green, and when the faces 30 and 31 of the game pieces 23 are red and black, both faces of each game piece appear black to each players opponent when either face 30 or 31 is viewed through the transparent game board. This visual aspect of the game board 11 and game pieces 23 allows an important variational characteristic to be introduced into the game as is described below. Multiple game pieces 23 are provided for each player, preferably enough being provided so that each player has sufficient pieces to fill one linear row portion 27 or 28, as well as to fill one row 101 or 104 of the central portion, of the matrix 24 on his side 15 or 16 of the game board at the outset of the game.

The objective of the game is for the first player to force all the second players game pieces off the second players posts (through repulsive forces achieved by proper orientation of the first players magnetized game pieces on his posts vis-a-vis the second players magnetized game pieces on his posts) before the second player forces all the first players pieces off the first players posts. The two players take alternate turns in moving the game pieces one at a time from one post to another on their respective game board sides in attempting to achieve this objective.

In use, the second player aligns his pieces 23 on at least one horizontal row 27 of posts 19 at the top of the game board 11 on one side 16 thereof, and the first player aligns his pieces on at least one horizontal row 28 of posts 18 at the bottom of the game board on the other side 15 thereof. In a more complicated variation, the second player also fills the top row 101 of the matrixs center portion in addition to the top row 27, and the first player also fills the bottom row 104 of the matrixs center portion in addition to the bottom row 28, on the players respective sides 16, 15, see FIG. I. The north/south polarity orientation of each players game pieces 23 is mixed up when the pieces are originally located on the game board, the north face on some pieces and the south face on other pieces being. directed toward the owner of these pieces; in this connection, note particularly the color coding (and, hence, the polarity) of those game pieces 23a (i.e., the first players pieces) on side 15 of the game board 11 which are visible only to the first player as shown in FIG. 1. The owner of the pieces can easily tell the polarity of his pieces because of the color code, but cannot tell the polarity of his opponents pieces (even though such are also color coded) because the transparent game board is tinted to prevent such identification; in this connection, note particularly that the color coding on game pieces 23b (i.e., the second players pieces) on side 16 of the game board is unidentifiable to the first player when same are viewed through the tinted, transparent game board even though the physical location of those pieces 23b are visible to the second player as also shown in FIG. 1.

The two players then approach the center of the game board 11 one move at a time in checkers-like fashion without flipping the game pieces, i.e., without reversing the magnetic orientation of the game piece faces 30, 31 as originally established in the start positions shown in FIG. 1. Preferably each players pieces may only be moved sideways or toward his opponents starting lineup of game pieces, i.e., only moved in checkers-like fashion, when a single game piece is being moved from post to post. Elimination of a piece from the board occurs when, e.g., the first player moves one of his pieces onto one of his posts when one of the second players pieces is positioned over that one of the second players posts which is coaxial therewith and when the juxtaposed faces of those two pieces are of the same polarity. Such allows the first player to push the second players piece off the second players post and, thereby eliminates the second players piece from the game board. Of course, when the juxtaposed faces of the two players pieces on coaxial posts are of the opposite polarity, such attracts the pieces one to the other with the result that no piece is eliminated during that move; this, however, does provide useful information to each player in that it tells each player the polarity orientation of his opponents piece on that post.

Once a player succeeds in reaching the upper row 27 (if he has started from the bottom row) with one or more game pieces 23a, or the bottom row 22 (if he has started from the upper row) with one or more game pieces 23b, he is permitted to couple another game piece with each successful game piece in checkers-like fashion. This coupled game piece, thus, will be made up of two game pieces magnetically attracted together to form a couple. The player(s) with a couple(s) may move the couple(s) forward and backward as well as sideways (it being remembered that single pieces may only be moved sideways or forward toward the opposing players original lineup). The couple(s) may also be flipped, if the couple is moved to a position which is not occupied by his opponent on the opposite side of the board, in a secretive fashion (by removing same from a post and manipulating same under the table) as same are transposed from one post to another by the player owning same in an effort to outguess or outsmart his opponent.

In accomplishing the games objective, the players must take into account the multiple variation of moves available from the multiple playing pieces 23 initially placed on the game board 111. Importantly, each player must keep in mind the polarity problem posed by his opponents pieces 23 on the game board, it being recalled that each player may place, e.g., the north pole, of as many game pieces as he desires adjacent his side of the game board during the original lineup of game pieces. The color coding enables a player to know the polarity of his own game pieces 23. Since the game board 11 is transparent, same allows each player also to know the placement and movement of his opponents pieces. However, by tinting of the board 111 a masking effect is achieved so that each player is unable to determine initially the color coding (and, hence, the polarity) of his opponents pieces 23. Thus, the game boards transparency and tint, in combination with the game pieces magnetic properties and color coding, cooperate to provide a magnetic game that is fun to play for persons of a wide age span and that may be played in varying degrees of concentration depending on the motivation of the players.

Having described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, what I desire to claim and protect by letters Patent is:

11. A magnetic game comprising a planar game board of nonmagnetic material adapted to stand vertically during use, said game board being transparent and color tinted,

retainer means arranged in a matrix configuration on each side of said game board, the matrix on one side being superimposed over the matrix on the other side, and

a plurality of magnetized and color coded game pieces adapted to be selectively held in position on said game board by said retainer means, opposite faces of each game piece being of opposite polarity and different color with the faces of the same polarity on all pieces being of the same color, said colors being chosen so that both faces of each game piece appear the same color when viewed through said tinted game board.

2. A magnetic game as set forth in claim 1 wherein the north/south polarity axis of each game piece is disposed substantially perpendicular to said game board when said game piece is located in place on said retainer means.

3. A magnetic game as set forth in claim 2 wherein the north/south faces of each game piece are color coded red/black, respectively, and wherein said game board is tinted green.

4. A magnetic game as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer means includes a series of posts extending outwardly from each side thereof, said posts being arranged in coaxial pairs with one post of each pair projecting outwardly from each side of the game board, and wherein said game pieces are in the nature of a plurality of ring-shaped game pieces adapted to slide over said posts.

5. A magnetic game as set forth in claim 4 wherein each post is of an axial length equal to at least about two times the thickness of each game piece, thereby allowing two game pieces to be received on each post. 

1. A magnetic game comprising a planar game board of nonmagnetic material adapted to stand vertically during use, said game board being transparent and color tinted, retainer means arranged in a matrix configuration on each side of said game board, the matrix on one side being superimposed over the matrix on the other side, and a plurality of magnetized and color coded game pieces adapted to be selectively held in position on said game board by said retainer means, opposite faces of each game piece being of opposite polarity and different color with the faces of the same polarity on all pieces being of the same color, said colors being chosen so that both faces of each game piece appear the same color when viewed through said tinted game board.
 2. A magnetic game as set forth in claim 1 wherein the north/south polarity axis of each game piece is disposed substantially perpendicular to said game board when said game piece is located in place on said retainer means.
 3. A magnetic game as Set forth in claim 2 wherein the north/south faces of each game piece are color coded red/black, respectively, and wherein said game board is tinted green.
 4. A magnetic game as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer means includes a series of posts extending outwardly from each side thereof, said posts being arranged in coaxial pairs with one post of each pair projecting outwardly from each side of the game board, and wherein said game pieces are in the nature of a plurality of ring-shaped game pieces adapted to slide over said posts.
 5. A magnetic game as set forth in claim 4 wherein each post is of an axial length equal to at least about two times the thickness of each game piece, thereby allowing two game pieces to be received on each post. 